The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has opened a 15-day public comment period for proposed amendments to both the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) and the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations. Comments are due for both regulations before the end of October.

LCFS Proposed Changes: The LCFS amendments proposed on October 1 mark the second set of 15-day changes. These recent updates include both clarifying and substantive modifications in several key areas. Clarifying changes were suggested for Avoided Methane Crediting and the Automatic Acceleration Mechanism, with no substantive revisions from the first 15-day package in August. Revisions were made to the “accelerated reporting” trigger under “book and claim” that if met, will require projects breaking ground after 12/31/29 to report the physical flow of biomethane in the pipeline four years earlier than scheduled. The carbon intensity target remains unchanged at 9 percent, as proposed in the initial 15-day package. Likewise, the 20 percent crediting cap on crop-based biofuels continues and now includes sunflower oil. Comments on these changes are due by Wednesday, October 16, 2024.

ACT Proposed Changes: The ACT amendments, released on October 7, include both deferred changes from the CARB May 2024 public hearing and newly proposed revisions. The deferred changes offer minor amendments to fulfill CARB’s commitments under the Clean Truck Partnership agreement and to implement the regulation. The new changes aim to address challenges in the truck market since the ACT’s implementation earlier this year. Under the regulation, truck manufacturers must sell an increasing number of electric trucks in order to sell their combustion versions. However, due to slower than anticipated EV truck purchases, particularly for Class 7 and 8 tractors, combustion truck sales have dropped by up to 50 percent in 2024. The staff proposed amendments attempt to remedy this issue. The deadline for submitting comments on these changes is Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

For more details on the proposed language, visit CARB’s LCFS and ACT websites. The CARB Board will consider the ACT amendments at its October 24, 2024 meeting. The LCFS proposal will be voted on at the November 8, 2024 Board Meeting in Riverside, CA. To submit written comments on either regulation, click here.